Cataracts

Overview

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Cataracts are very common in older people, and, in fact, by age 80, more than half of all people in the United States either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.

Warning Signs & Symptoms

Cataracts usually develop slowly, but common symptoms include blurry vision, faded-looking colors, glare around lights, decreased vision at night, double vision and frequent changes in eye prescriptions.

Treatment/Procedures

Removal of the cataract is done to improve impaired vision. For more information, click here to read more about cataract surgery.

Prevention

An eye exam is one of the best ways to protect vision because it can detect eye problems at their earliest stage, when they are most treatable. Regular eye exams give the eye care professional a chance to help patients correct or adapt to vision changes — changes that are so gradual the patient may not have noticed them! — and provide them with tips on caring for their eyes. And though there are several risk factors that people can't control, such as age and family history, there are several risk factors people can control, according to the Academy of Ophthalmology. Those include not smoking; reducing exposure to sunlight by wearing UVA/UVB protective eyewear and wide-brimmed hats; controlling diseases such as diabetes; and eating a healthy diet.

Rehabilitation

The cataract surgery recovery period is generally short, usually taking about two to six weeks for the eye to heal. Some patients experience improved vision the day of the procedure, while others take about a week before clear vision improvement becomes noticeable. Cataract surgery usually changes a patient's corrective prescription needs, so most people do not see the full effects until they wear new glasses.

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